Monday, July 30, 2012

Within the walls of Baalboden, beneath the shadow of the city's brutal leader, Rachel Adams has a secret. While other girls sew dresses and obey their male Protectors, Rachel knows how to survive in the wilderness and deftly wield a sword. When her father, Jared, fails to return from a courier mission and is declared dead, the Commander assigns Rachel a new Protector, her father's apprentice, Logan--the same boy Rachel declared her love for two years ago, and the same one who handed her heart right back to her. Left with nothing but a fierce belief in her father's survival, Rachel decides to escape and find him herself. But treason against the Commander carries a heavy price, and what awaits her in the Wasteland could destroy her.
At nineteen, Logan McEntire is many things. Orphan. Outcast. Inventor. As apprentice to the city's top courier, Logan is focused on learning his trade so he can escape the tyranny of Baalboden. But his plan never included being responsible for his mentor's impulsive daughter. Logan is determined to protect her, but when his escape plan goes wrong and Rachel pays the price, he realizes he has more at stake than disappointing Jared.
As Rachel and Logan battle their way through the Wasteland, stalked by a monster that can't be killed and an army of assassins out for blood, they discover romance, heartbreak, and a truth that will incite a war decades in the making.

Review:Defiance was a very interesting dystopian story. It took you
to a new world, and one with a power hungry leader. Defiance had me invested in
the story and I loved the way it was written and how it made me think about
what was going to happen. It surprised me with every turn of the page!

Cover:

The cover is perfect! It is exactly how I picture Rachel,
with her fiery red hair and her black cloak. You can see the Wall in her cloak
and I think it’s just icing on the cake on an amazing cover!

Plot/Writing:

Sure, there were moments of predictability, but those
moments were outshone with the times when I was taken by surprise. It might’ve
been by how smart Logan really is, how determined Rachel is, or just a plot
twist in general that kept me on my toes and expecting the worst to happen. It
was written beautifully and had me laughing, teary-eyed, or freaking out over
what had just happened.

Characters:

Rachel was the reason for the title Defiance. She would do
anything to save the ones she loved, even if it meant sacrificing her own
happiness. She was a character ruled by her emotions and it was inspiring to
read

about. It also made me want to become like her... She is quite a badass.

Logan is a mix between a techy and badass. He can run
through any scenario in a matter of seconds and come up with solutions to all
of them, all while fighting his way toward saving Rachel. When I think of Logan
I think of Zuko from “Avatar: the Last
Airbender” when he would say he needs to restore his honor. That’s how I
picture Logan when he was tasked with being Rachel’s protector.

All in All:

I really loved Defiance! It was an amazing story and I can’t
wait for the next story from C.J Redwine!

Sunday, July 29, 2012

This
giveaway is open internationally! So
let’s tell the blogging world!

*SPELLBOUND
SERIES TRIVIA QUIZ*

Hi
everybody, I’m author, Sherry Soule—waving from the SF Bay Area, where it can
get pretty foggy. And I can’t believe that summer’s finally here, and even with
the fog burning off by afternoon, I’m cranking the air conditioner and chatting
on Twitter about my love of reading.

Thanks
for letting me visit today as part of my epic Moonlight Mayhem Blog Tour.
It’s an honor to be a guest and meet all of these awesome booklovers—like me!

Thus far, my tour has been a blast for me and the readers that
participated. It is nice seeing familiar names in the comments at each stop.
For those of you who haven’t heard of my super fun blog tour it’s not too late
to join!

To celebrate the release of author, Sherry Soule’s new paranormal
novel, MOONLIGHT MAYHEM, take this super fun quiz to see how savvy you
are about the first two books in this unforgettable YA series, and score a
Kindle or Nook version of the first book in the series, BEAUTIFULLY BROKEN!(Hint:
you can most of these answers on the Spellbound Universe blog and Sherry’s
blog.)

Now, let’s see how well you think you know
this series (even if you’ve never read the books, you can find all the answers
online) and be sure to check the
bottom of the post for the details regarding this random giveaway.

1.In the Moonlight Mayhem book trailer what is Shiloh’s epic problem?

a. Ferocious
wolves

b.
Deadly necromancers

c. Shambling
zombies

d.
Fear of the dark

2.
Where did Shiloh and Trent first see each other?

a. At
school

b.
In the gym

c. Luna
Pizza

d.
At church

3.What
remote coastal town is the series located?

a. Castro Valley

b.
Larkspur

c. Madrone
Woodlands

d.
Whispering Pines

4.Which
paranormal(s) tormented Shiloh in the first book?

a. Wraith

b.
Shades

c. Shadow
People (demon)

d.
a, b, and c

5.What
is Shiloh’s freakishness?

a. She
has a severe limp

b.
She is missing an ear

c. She
has six toes on her right foot

d.
She has a jagged scar on her wrist

6.Which
fictional demon hunter(s) does Shiloh must admire?

a. Sam
Winchester

b. Salvatore
brothers

c.
Buffy

d. Charmed
Ones

7.What
is Shiloh’s heritage?

a. Heritage
Witch

b.
Half Asian and Half Caucasian

c. Hispanic

d.
Half American Indian and half French

8.What type of magick does Shiloh’s mother, Jillian practice?

a. White
Magick

b.
Voodoo

c. Wiccan

d.
Dark Arts

9.What
is a Sheol ? (*Hint: Google Sheol for the answer)

a. A
ride at Disneyland

b.
A town in Marin County

c. A
contagious rash

d.
A gateway to the Underworld

10.What are
Shiloh’s supernatural pet(s)?

a. Phoenix
(exotic bird)

b.
Siamese cat (familiar)

c.
Fairies

d.
Shades

11.What type
of paranormal is Mrs. Baylock?

a. Vampire

b. Necromancer

c. Witch

d. Ghost

12.Who was
the first owner of Ravenhurst Manor? (*Hint: Google Owner ofRavenhurst for the answer)

a. Michele
Broussard

b.
Wealthy unknown family

c. Maxwell
Donavon

d.
Rowan Broussard

13.What significance
does the number “13” have in the series?

a. Nothing
it’s just a stupid number

b.
It’s the number of rooms in Ravenhurst Manor

c. It’s
the number of times that Shiloh sees a ghost

d.
It is part of an ancient prophecy foretelling of a girl who will break a curse

Shiloh Ravenwolf
thought she was getting used to the strange events in Whispering Pines, until
the full moon brings another surge of supernatural threats to her coastal town.
Ferocious wolves, deadly necromancers, and shambling zombies have descended
upon the neighborhood, so Shiloh needs to gain control of her magical
abilities—fast!

It sucks that she
has a crippling fear of the dark, which for a demon hunter can be an epic
problem.

When her classmates
are attacked by a mysterious creature and her father is murdered, Shiloh vows
vengeance. Forcing her phobias aside, she forms an unlikely coven of
supernaturally gifted teens to help her eradicate this menace. Except that's
not all Shiloh has to worry about. She’s battling a different monster within
herself and struggling not to become the very thing she fights: evil.

Saturday, July 28, 2012

After the grand explosion of her relationship, seventeen-year-old Max Scott developed what every girl in the history of the world has been waiting for: a way to get over being dumped. Now Max is the go-to guru for heartbroken high-school girls all over NYC. But when her ex unexpectedly shows up in her neighborhood, Max’s carefully controlled world starts to unravel. With her clients’ hearts hanging in the balance, Max will have to do the seemingly impossible: get over him once and for all.
Brilliant at bringing humor to the trials and tribulations of the lovestruck, #1 New York Times bestselling authors Emma McLaughlin and Nicola Kraus have crafted a tale that will resonate with any girl who has ever been in love or had her heart broken. It brims with smart observations, features a pitch-perfect teen voice, and will attract fans of Jenny Han, Sarah Mlynowski, and Lauren Barnholdt. Readers are sure to fall head-over-heels for this sharp spin on breaking up, making up, and getting even.

Review:

This book was… wow. It had me focused on it for about 3
hours straight, and that’s all I needed to finish it. It follows the story of
Max, who runs a breakup recovery program. You see what Max goes through on a
daily basis and how she changes and learns what her program is all about. I
loved this book. It wasn’t what I was expecting. It was a cute, quick, fun read!

Cover:

The cover is so cute! Everything about this book is cute! J I love how they show a
happy couple, and then suddenly the girl is all alone and in cover! It shows
how she was okay, even after a relationship that looked like a good time.

Plot/Writing:

The writing was just okay. It was a little confusing at
times and jumped from person to person POV’s. That became difficult to read at
times when I would be reading a paragraph in Max’s POV and the next it would be
in Ben’s or Taylor’s. Other than that, it was a good read. It really showed
what it was like to have your heart broken and the recovery process.

Characters:

Max was amazing. She would swoop in a save you from
depression. She was strong and confident, but at times stupid and a little naïve.
There was times when I wanted to reach into the book and smack Max silly. She had
too much going on to be completely happy and relaxed. It wasn’t until the end
that I was like, “YES! NOW MAX IS EVEN MORE AMAZING!!!” Yes, I really did say
that. Though quietly, because it’s three am and my family is asleep.

Ben is soo cute and super sweet! Every scene with Ben in it,
I found myself swooning over him! He was like the perfect guy. Sure, he had his
stupid moments and I had a mini freak out on Twitter, but it all worked out in
the end! I loved Ben so much, and he reminds me of my best friend, and that
just made me love him even more!

All in All:

How could this book end?! That was another fault there. I
wanted to know all these things and it just ends. I hope that she does more
with these characters and that it just doesn’t end there!

I could be surrounded by a million people, but I would still feel alone. I smile on the outside, but inside I feel like I’m slowly dying. I cry out for help, but nobody sees me, at least not the real me. They see a façade, a mask that I put on to hide the pain.

I pretend that I’m normal, but really, what is normal? Maybe what I’m feeling is normal. The hurt, the disappointment, the loneliness… it could be all just be a part of life. Maybe I will never know what normal is.

I put on long sleeves and makeup to hide the bruises, but they only mask the outside. What happens when I can’t carry my burden alone any longer? What would happen if I told somebody the truth?
Don't Tell is a YA Contemporary Romance about love, forgivness and hope. Coming Fall 2012.

About Mercy:
Mercy Amare writes YA fiction books. She has a slight addiction to NOS, and her guilty pleasure is Pretty
Little Liars.

Wednesday, July 25, 2012

Try as she might, Evie can’t seem to escape her not-so-normal past. And what was supposed to be a blissfully normal school break is ruined when a massive group of paranormals shows up at her house, claiming that Evie is the only one who can protect them from a mysterious, perilous fate.
The deadly war between the faerie courts looms ever closer. The clock is ticking on the entire paranormal world. And its future rests solely in Evie’s hands.
So much for normal.
With a perfect blend of humor and suspense, Endlessly is everything readers could dream of in a conclusion—and the unexpected twists will keep them guessing until the very last page.

Monday, July 23, 2012

Kendra has always felt overshadowed by her older brother, Grayson, whose OCD forces him to live a life of carefully coordinated routines. The only way Kendra can stand out next to Grayson is to be perfect, and she has perfection down to an art -- until a cheating scandal threatens her flawless reputation.

Behind the wheel of her car, with Grayson asleep beside her, Kendra decides to drive away from it all -- with enough distance, maybe she'll be able to figure everything out. But eventually, Kendra must stop running and come to terms with herself, her brother, and her past.

With undeniable grace and humor, acclaimed author Jennifer Brown explores OCD, the pressure for perfection, and the emotional highs and lows of a complex sibling relationship.

Review:

Perfect Escape looked at all the difficulties of having
someone in your family with an illness. Kendra has always lived in her brother’s
shadow of his major OCD, and all she wants to do is escape from it and make him
better. She decides that she wants to go on this road trip, and she is taking
Grayson with her. I really enjoyed looking in on Grayson and Kendra’s
relationship and how she deals with him.

Cover:

The cover was really interesting. I usually wouldn’t have
picked this book up because of the cover alone. It had a very awkward cover.
One aspect was of Kendra’s face, and the other was of Grayson’s. Something
about that just creeped me out a little.

Plot/Writing:

You follow Kendra on her way to California and how she manages
Gray’s OCD and the fact that she is running away from her problems. The story
was interesting, if not a little boring for me. I found myself skipping over
paragraphs and words because I wasn’t interested in the pacing of the story. You
had to be patient and wait for the story to progress, but I just wasn’t in the
mood. I wanted action, and the type of action it had I didn’t really want. That
doesn’t mean it wasn’t a good story, it just wasn’t what I usually read. Plus
there was no romance! I need my romance!

Characters:

Kendra is a little difficult. It takes a while to realize
why she is freaking out. You get hints along the way, but you don’t know the
full story until the very end. I could relate to Kendra and how she felt like
she was always in her brother’s shadow. No matter what she did all the
attention was focused on Grayson and she just wanted to be loved like her
brother. She felt the need to be perfect, and well no one is perfect, and
Kendra learns that the hard way.

Grayson is difficult, to say the least. He has major OCD
where he is always counting, or uh-uh-uhing. You see Kendra’s flash backs of
him when he is semi-normal, and then you see him freak out in the present.
Grayson changes and grows as the story continues. He relinquishes a little
control and relaxes. He becomes more of himself and has fun. I liked reading
about this Grayson. He wasn’t someone to be pitied, or looked at weirdly. He
was just like us, with maybe a few quirks.

All in All:

If you like realistic fiction, then this is your type of
story. It touches your heart at a brother/sister bond, and makes you smile at
the end. Also, it has some language, so be warned! J

Saturday, July 21, 2012

Suffocate is the first novelette in THE BREATHLESS series. It is a 15,000 word young adult thriller that combines the dystopic and science fiction genres.
For centuries, the world outside the Biome has been unlivable. Today, marks the first time anyone will attempt to leave the suffocating ecosphere. Eria is not worried because her scientist father has successfully tested the new Bio-Suit many times. It's a celebratory day until something goes horribly wrong. In the midst of tragedy, Eria uncovers a deep conspiracy in her perfect bubble. If those responsible find out what she knows, they won't stop hunting her until she takes her last breath.
The 2nd novelette in the series, CHOKE, is scheduled for Fall 2012. The 3rd, EXHALE, is scheduled for Winter 2013.

Review:It has taken me way too long to read Suffocate by S.R
Johannes. I really enjoyed this short story. It was just what I needed to get
me back into my reading mood, though not quite my reviewing mood! ;) S.R. has
done another amazing job with Suffocate. Sure, the MC in Suffocate seemed a lot
like the MC in Untraceable, but that wasn't that much of a big deal.

Cover:

The cover is gorgeous. It takes some getting used to, but
once you do it really is exceptional.

Plot/Writing:

The book is so short that it is hard to get a feel for the
story. Everything is thrown at you so quickly that you’re getting whiplash from
one page to the next. It was very fast paced and everything happened right
away. There wasn’t much suspense building, but that was what was good about the
story. I didn’t have to worry about being kept in the dark, except it did have
a nasty cliffhanger.

Characters:

Eria is a very sweet girl. You start the book with her
taking care of her grandmother, who doesn’t love that! You see her go through
so much change and destruction in such a short amount of time that it is
amazing that she doesn’t just collapse and fall apart. She keeps trucking along
and I can’t wait to see what she is like in the next book after that cliff
hanger.

Ash is the nerdy, sexy science assistant. He protects Eria
with everything he’s got, even when he’s in a crappy situation himself. I really
can’t add much about Ash without spoiling the whole book, so I’m going to stop
there!

All in All:

Cute quick read! There were minor typos, but those were
easily overlooked! I should’ve read this about two months ago, but better late
than never!

Wednesday, July 18, 2012

In The Son of Neptune, Percy, Hazel, and Frank met in Camp Jupiter, the Roman equivalent of Camp Halfblood, and traveled to the land beyond the gods to complete a dangerous quest. The third book in the Heroes of Olympus series will unite them with Jason, Piper, and Leo. But they number only six—who will complete the Prophecy of Seven?
The Greek and Roman demigods will have to cooperate in order to defeat the giants released by the Earth Mother, Gaea. Then they will have to sail together to the ancient land—Greece itself—to find the Doors of Death. What exactly are the Doors of Death? Much of the prophesy remains a mystery...
With old friends and new friends joining forces, a marvelous ship, fearsome foes, and an exotic setting, The Mark of Athena promises to be another unforgettable adventure by master storyteller Rick Riordan.

Monday, July 16, 2012

At Barinkoff Academy, there's only one rule: no students on campus after curfew. Phoenix McKay soon finds out why when she is left behind at sunset. A group calling themselves night students threaten to taste her flesh until she is saved by a mysterious, alluring boy. With his pale skin, dark eyes, and mesmerizing voice, Demitri is both irresistible and impenetrable. He warns her to stay away from his dangerous world of flesh eaters. Unfortunately, the gorgeous and playful Luka has other plans. When Phoenix is caught between her physical and her emotional attraction, she becomes the keeper of a deadly secret that will rock the foundations of an ancient civilization living beneath Barinkoff Academy. Phoenix doesn't realize until it is too late that the closer she gets to both Demitri and Luka the more she is plunging them all into a centuries old feud.

Review:

Taste was an amazing look into the zombie world and sci-fi.
I usually don’t read any of those types of books, ever, but I had to read
Taste. I was a reader on The Coffee Bar on Kate’s website and I loved it so
much that I had to encourage her to keep writing and loved the fact that she
got it published! She wrote an amazing tale of romance and humor and a fight
for a cure. You will not be sorry if you read it.

Cover:

This was not how I pictured the cover. I pictured something
with a dark and handsome guy and a girl breaking some type of rule like Phoenix.
But I do like the cover. It was dark and mysterious and fit the story.

Plot/Writing:

The writing was exceptional. She did an amazing job with the
story and keeping everything straight. She created this whole new world with
weird words, and yet she explained everything. You were never questioning
anything for a long time. I loved how she changed it from her site to how it is
now. The only complaint I have is that on the back of my copy it says Yuri,
whose name is actually Luka.

Characters:

Phoenix was a trouble maker, or at least she used to be. She
had changed when she got to Barinkoff and was a better kid. She breaks the one
rule though, and that is being on campus after curfew. She’s a curious and
brave character. She is selfless and kind. She is also unpredictable and you
are left wondering what she is going to do to herself half the time. She does
get herself into messes sometimes, but she always has a way to get out of them
and always follows through.

Demitri is well… confusing. The perfect way to describe his
Katy Perry’s Hot and Cold. One second he is being sweet and kind, the
next he is cold and stoic. He is the perfect example of control and when you
see that control break it is very interesting. I loved Demitri because you got
to see into the life as a prince, and how it isn’t all it’s cracked up to be,
especially with a crazy brother who has discovered something bad! J

All in All:

I really enjoyed Taste! It isn’t your average story, and definitely
not the story you were expecting!

Saturday, July 14, 2012

When Travis returns home from a stint in Afghanistan, his parents are splitting up, his brother’s stolen his girlfriend and his car, and he’s haunted by nightmares of his best friend’s death. It’s not until Travis runs into Harper, a girl he’s had a rocky relationship with since middle school, that life actually starts looking up. And as he and Harper see more of each other, he begins to pick his way through the minefield of family problems and post-traumatic stress to the possibility of a life that might resemble normal again. Travis’s dry sense of humor, and incredible sense of honor, make him an irresistible and eminently lovable hero.

Review:

Something like Normal was an amazing book that pulled at
your heart and had you crying, laughing, or just plain old swooning. This book
had me up until the wee hours of the morning, okay 1 am, but that’s not the
point! I read it in three hours, and I have to say those were three well spent
hours!

Cover:

What is with all the close up covers lately? I mean, the
cover definitely drew me in cause I like romances, but these covers have been
dominating lately. I don’t know why, but I like them. The cover was cute, and
fit the book.

Plot/Writing:

It had a good storyline, it was relatable and it seemed
real. You could relate to Travis with the things he was going through, even if
you weren’t a Marine. It was a very interesting story to read because it was
told from Travis’s POV and you got a different look on the world from his eyes.
You travel with Travis through the past, to when he was happy, with his
Marines. Then you are with him as he suffers through the present with a deep
regret of something you can’t help. This story just pulled at your emotions, I
was either laughing my butt of, crying my eyes out, or swooning like a little
girl.

Characters:

Travis was a douche at the beginning. I will admit that. He
never wrote to his Mom during the war and was just annoyed with her when he
came home. All he wanted to do was run away from his life and got back to the
war. Sure, his dad was mean and his brother took everything from him, but his
mom never did anything wrong besides loving him. He made some stupid choices,
but in the end he was stronger and became a normal person. He let the strong,
caring person he really is shine through and I loved seeing that side of him.

Harper is well… How I picture myself in four years, minus
the still living at home part. She is strong and has a good head on her
shoulders. I won’t give away any spoilers, but she proves herself to be awesome
when she first see’s Travis again. I love how you see a strong girl who didn’t let
rumors destroy her. Harper was amazing!

All in All:

I really loved Something like Normal. It was a cute, quick
easy read that brought up some good reasons and points. I look forward to
reading any more of Trish’s writing! J